Twisted Perfection
by Abbi Glines
Recently I have been reading a lot of angsty YA stories. I tripped upon author Abbi Glines entirely by accident.
(From Abbi Glines website)
Life outside of her house was a new experience for Della Sloane. The
dark secrets of her past weren’t something she ever intended to share
with anyone. They would never understand. No one would ever get close
enough to find out. There was always a chance she’d go crazy sooner than
they expected…
Woods Kerrington had never been one to be attracted to fragile
females. They seemed like too much work. He wasn’t in it for the work
just the pleasure. A night full of naughty fun had been exactly what was
on his mind when he’d laid eyes on the hot little number that didn’t
know how to pump gas and needed some help.
What he didn’t know was she was as fragile as they came.
The carefree girl who spoke her mind and didn’t care what the world
thought of her was more breakable than he could ever imagine…
This book, and I will admit out loud, I was looking forward to it.
Sadly, it was just okay. My impression of the hero had been formed in a previous book where he
made an appearance. Honestly, I was charmed.
Plus the premise for this book reeled me in.
Woods Kerrington and Della Sloane meet at a gas station. She needs help pumping gas since she's never done it before (yes it sounds far fetched, but there is a reason why this is true). He, being the gentlemen that he is offers up help. Things progress from there. Della has a great back story that I won't ruin with any spoilers.
When I met Woods in the previous book he was portrayed as a southern gentlemen dedicated to his work. In this incarnation he didn't read the same way for me, or maybe it was just that after peeking below the surface the attraction was lost. I liked the version of him in the previous story better.
Another thing that really bothered me about this story was the ending. It was unnecessary. Completely. The only reason this author chose to end it the way she did is because she is writing a second book about these characters and wants to ensure I buy it. It didn't.
FYI authors: This practice seriously pisses me off.
Plus if felt as if the story ended in the middle of an incomplete thought.
I hate when authors do that. I get the appeal of the cliff hanger, and in this case the ending wasn't so much a cliff hanger as there was just no conclusion to the thought she was in the middle of. It was frustrating with a capital F.
Overall, the book was a quick, light read and if your an Abbi Glines fan you probably won't be disappointed.
I know what you mean--it feels manipulative to end a book with that kind of cliffhanger. (In general, I mean. I haven't read this book.)
ReplyDeleteI'm writing a series, but I do try to end each book with some sort of resolution, so that it feels like a complete reading experience. Sure, I'd love it if readers wanted to go on to the next one, but I'd rather it be because they enjoy the characters rather than because they've been coerced.
I know what you mean. A popular NA book did that to me and I refuse to read the second one. I don't mind cliffhangers but not the kind that leave off in the middle of the climax scene. :)
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